Image forming apparatus, image forming cartridge supporter, and image forming unit

Abstract

An image forming apparatus has a body frame and a slide frame. The slide frame is configured to be pulled out from the body frame along a sliding direction. A plurality of image forming cartridges is detachably mounted on the slide frame. A plurality of electrode members is mounted on the slide frame and aligned along the sliding direction so as to correspond to the image forming cartridges. A body-side contact portion of each of the electrode members is electrically connected to the body frame. A cartridge-side contact portion of the electrode member is electrically connected to the image forming cartridge. The image forming cartridge is connected to the body via the corresponding electrode member when the slide frame mounting the image forming cartridges is inserted to the body frame.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An image-forming apparatus, comprising:
 a main body including a plurality of first electrodes; 
 a slide frame supported by the main body and configured to be drawn out from the main body along a first direction, the slide frame including a plurality of second electrodes, wherein each of the plurality of second electrodes is configured to establish electrical connection to each of the plurality of first electrodes and each of a plurality of third electrodes; and 
 a plurality of cartridges aligned along the first direction, each of the plurality of cartridges being mountable on and dismountable from the slide frame in a second direction crossing the first direction, each of the plurality of cartridges including a rotation member extending in a third direction crossing the first direction and second direction and a third electrode configured to establish electrical connection to the rotation member, 
 wherein the slide frame includes a plurality of first walls extending in the first direction and a second wall extending in the first direction, the plurality of first walls and the second wall are disposed at a position on one side of the third direction with respect to the plurality of cartridges when the plurality of cartridges is mounted in the slide frame, 
 wherein each of the plurality of first walls supports each of the plurality of second electrodes, and 
 wherein the second wall supports the plurality of first walls. 
 
     
     
       2. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of first walls has an opening for exposing each of the plurality of second electrodes. 
     
     
       3. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second wall has an opening for exposing each of the plurality of second electrodes. 
     
     
       4. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation member is a development roller. 
     
     
       5. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the second electrodes are wire-like members. 
     
     
       6. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of the second electrodes includes a coil portion having a shape of a coil spring and a cartridge-side contact portion provided at one end of the coil portion and configured to make contact with one of the plurality of third electrodes. 
     
     
       7. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of first walls includes a support portion configured to support the coil portion of the second electrode. 
     
     
       8. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the slide frame is detachably mounted to the main body. 
     
     
       9. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of the plurality of second electrodes is equal to a number of the plurality of cartridges. 
     
     
       10. An image-forming apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cartridges includes a coupling member configured to receive a driving force from the main body.